My cabin (house)is really starting to show its age. I am considering a log home instead of a traditional house. I live on a lake and it would look great and i have always liked the idea of having one. Any of you guys have one and could offer some advice. Or maybe the advice is run like hell. I have a co-worker who had had one for about 20 years and it very happy with it. I'm looking at about 2-3 years out.

you save more than 50% over conventional stick framing
and of course they're super strong... you get the "woody" look
with all the beams but you have flat walls that you can sheet rock
if desired. They'll deliver it un- assembled or assemble it as a do it yourself
for the rest.... your choice.

First off..... you had better really really like wood.
Buy a completed kit of a plan you like. All plumbing and electrical are figured in from the get go. Changes during construction are expensive nightmares. I like them but would add some rock/plastered walls, especially in bedrooms, closets and partial kitchen. You can get any species, but some are expensive as they are not native and have to be trucked in from out west. I spent part of the very first week on one up around Gunstock and returned to install the kitchen at the end. Very interesting process. Don't forget that the wood does darken over time.....

Esthetically they can be very nice, but have some inherent issues. They have as many cracks as possible, can have no more wall insulation than R-1.4 x 8" = R-11.2, are pretty far from maintenance free.
You can actually buy good log siding that can go over a effective wall system and looks just like a sawn log cabin. Or maybe reside the home you have?

Pete
Formerly known as bluefishercat
"Plugs
There are about 4,000,000 of these on the market. Not really, but that's just the way it seems (and some guy just invented 3 more while I was writing this sentence)."
How To Catch Salt Water Fish by Bill Wisner copyright 1955

Thanks for the info guys. Not sure if a log home is the way to go or not. Coventry log home out of new hampshire is the company i am looking into. I have not done any cost comparison at all vs regular homes. Suppose that should be done.